The hotel concierge is one of those elusive travel perks that most people know exists, but many rarely take full advantage of. The reality is that it’s baked into the cost of your stay, and utilizing the services is fully expected.
“Hotels ranging from full-service to five-star luxury typically have a concierge team,” says Anthony Fabiano, hotel manager of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. “At many luxury hotels, the concierge will reach out before your arrival to introduce their services and highlight experiences unique to the destination.”
If they don’t reach out beforehand, you can always ask about the concierge team at check-in. Many teams provide the basics, like arranging restaurant reservations, helping with transportation, and booking local experiences. But they can do so much more, if you know to ask.
Here are some lesser-known concierge services you can enjoy during your next stay.
In this article
Curated Experiences
A good concierge offers some boilerplate recommendations to nearby restaurants and attractions. But an excellent concierge curates experiences according to your preferences, and goes one step further by utilizing their own personal connections.
For example, Fabiano says, “Ask your concierge for their favorite dish at a restaurant, or even an introduction to the maître d'. Those insider recommendations and personal connections can elevate an already great dining experience.”
Roberta Alberino, a concierge at Pazziella, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Capri, says some curated moments their team offers include professional photo shoots, private yoga sessions, hands-on classes with locals, and private tours.
The takeaway here is to go ahead and ask for more than a basic recommendation. Concierge teams are very familiar with the local landscape and have established connections with the community specifically to help elevate guest experiences.
Everyday Logistics
You probably know concierge teams handle travel-related logistics, like calling you a cab to the airport or booking your spa reservation. But their offerings go much further than this, taking the burden of everyday “logistics” from your plate so you can better enjoy your vacation and your hotel stay.
These offerings essentially stretch as far as your needs. Realized you need to have that suit pressed or your dress dry cleaned? Need a dog sitter while staying at a pet-friendly hotel? A concierge can help.
Need to return something you purchased, but there’s no time? Call the concierge. Need to mail a package, arrange a shipment, have flowers delivered, or arrange a pharmacy pickup? Concierge to the rescue.
Exclusive “Ins”
Along with recommendations, concierge teams can pull some pretty major strings behind the scenes.
“We can arrange everything from private after-hours museum tours and exclusive winery visits to last-minute access to sold-out concerts and events through our long-standing local relationships,” says Nicole Janoff Wallach, vice president of leisure travel at Magma Global.
She says they also excel at handling the unexpected, whether that’s coordinating a surprise proposal complete with flowers, photography, and personalized touches, or solving complex, time-sensitive requests that require extensive local connections and insider know-how.
Some teams may have more connections than others, of course, but don’t be afraid to ask about a grand idea or an “unlikely, but maybe there’s a chance” situation.
Built-Out Itineraries Before You Arrive
Fabiano mentioned above that many hotel concierge teams will reach out before you arrive. This isn’t just a “hey, we exist” memo, but is often an invitation to take advantage of services well before you ever check into the hotel.
Wallach seconds this. She says, “Long before our clients arrive, we're working closely with our trusted on-the-ground partners and hotel concierge teams to secure the best guides, restaurants, and exclusive experiences before they're fully booked. By the time a guest checks in, much of the magic has already happened behind the scenes.”
In other words, the concierge offerings begin with your reservation, so don’t feel like you can only use these services at the hotel itself. Let them help you plan ahead so you can enjoy an incredible vacation.
The Shortcut
Concierge service starts the moment you book, not when you check in. Text your hotel's concierge email before your trip and ask them to build out reservations before you arrive.
Don't stop at restaurant recs. Ask for a specific dish recommendation or an introduction to the maître d' for a better table.
Concierges handle real errands too: dry cleaning, returns, pharmacy runs, shipping a package. Use them like a personal assistant, not just a booking desk.
Big asks (after-hours museum access, sold-out concert tickets, a surprise proposal) aren't a guarantee, but ask anyway. Local connections make things possible that a Google search can't.
